Photos: Packers' 2021 season in pictures

The defense got pushed around while Aaron Rodgers and the offense had chances to get back in the game and failed miserably. Not a great way to kick things off. 

Name one thing from the colossal stinker that was the 2021 season opener that gave any indication the Packers are a contender, as advertised. Don't worry, we'll wait.

It was an ugly showing across the board for a Green Bay team with big expectations for this season. 

“I’m confident and happy and excited and love these guys," Aaron Rodgers said. "As a competitor, I’m frustrated about my performance, our performance. But this game is about how you respond to negativity usually more than how you're hailed for your successes."

“I still have the utmost confidence in our defense. We’re going to regroup and get better this week,” veteran safety Adrian Amos said.

The Saints' domination of the Packers on Sunday makes it reasonable to wonder if New Orleans has given future opponents a playbook for how to stymie Green Bay's previously high-powered offense.

“We always emphasize the division,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said last week. “I think that’s always the starting point is your division. I mean those games almost count as two because while you’re getting one leg up, somebody’s going backwards.”

“Rashan, he had a hell of an offseason, and he came back in great shape,” fellow outside linebacker Preston Smith said.

The man who had failed runs leading defenses in Detroit and Washington started with a dud in Green Bay and his positivity isn't very reassuring.

A quarterback wanted one of his favorite wide receivers back on the team back in July. If Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was any indication, it was a trade that will continue to pay dividends for Green Bay. 

Crosby doesn’t have many poor performances but this was one of them. And he still ended up kicking the game-winning field goal as the Packers took down the Bengals 25-22 in overtime Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.